Mrs. Neerja Birla Initiative Mpower Strengthens CISF Mental Health, Driving a Significant Decline in Suicide Incidents

Mpower,
an
initiative
of
the
Aditya
Birla
Education
Trust,
has
significantly
enhanced
the
mental
well-being
of
the
Central
Industrial
Security
Force
(CISF),
contributing
to
a
remarkable
40%
reduction
in
suicide
rates
since
2020.
This
achievement
highlights
the
success
of
Project
Mann
by
Mpower,
a
Public-Private
Partnership
(PPP)
that
addresses
the
unique
mental
health
challenges
faced
by
CISF
personnel,
including
prolonged
working
hours,
loneliness,
interpersonal
issues,
financial
stress,
and
high-pressure
living
conditions.
 

Through
this
partnership
over
the
years,
Mpower
has
developed
a
comprehensive
mental
health
support
system
tailored
for
CISF
personnel
across
India.
The
comprehensive
and
holistic
program
includes
a
24/7
counselling
helpline
that
has
managed
over
24,200
calls
since
2020,
providing
immediate,
confidential
assistance
and
sustained
well-being
checks
across
70
airports
and
51
non-airport
units.
In
addition
to
the
Tele
counselling,
the
team
of
psychologists
have
provided
one-to-one
therapy
sessions.
The
change
to
seek
help
started
when
we
conducted
awareness
across
India
for
CIS
personnel.
Our
efforts
have
impacted
over
2
Lakh
personnel.
 

These
sustained
efforts
have
yielded
remarkable
results,
including
a
significant
reduction
in
suicides
among
Central
Industrial
Security
Force
(CISF)
personnel.
In
2024,
CISF
reported
a
40%
decline
in
suicides—the
lowest
since
the
partnership
began.
This
highlights
the
tangible
impact
of
Mpower’s
mental
health
interventions
in
fostering
emotional
resilience
and
cultivating
a
supportive
mental
health
culture
within
the
organization.
 

A
senior
CISF
official
expressed
his
views,
stating, “Mpower’s
consistent
support
and
tailored
interventions
have
normalized
help-seeking
behavior
within
the
CISF,
reducing
stigma
around
mental
health
and
creating
a
healthier,
more
resilient
environment
for
our
personnel.
This
cultural
shift
is
critical
for
those
entrusted
with
safeguarding
the
nation’s
critical
infrastructure.”
 

Mrs.
Neerja
Birla,
Founder
and
Chairperson
of
Mpower,
ABET
emphasized
the
broader
implications
of
this
collaboration,
saying

“Our
partnership
with
CISF
demonstrates
how
public-private
partnerships
can
institutionalize
mental
health
support
not
only
in
the
workplace
but
also
in
high-stress
professions
like
paramilitary
services.
By
integrating
mental
health
as
a
core
component
of
resilience-building,
we
can
equip
personnel
to
thrive
under
pressure
while
fostering
emotional
strength.
The
40%
reduction
in
suicide
rates
within
the
CISF
highlights
the
tangible
impact
of
our
initiatives
by
the
Mpower
team.
Working
in
a
collaborative
manner
has
resulted
in
a
customized
step-by-step
approach
to
address
the
mental
health
of
a
large
community
service
workforce
and
creating
stigma-free
space
for
mental
health
conversations
for
an
audience
who
were
hesitant
to
seek
help.”
 

Looking
ahead,
Mpower
aims
to
expand
its
support
with
family
engagement
workshops,
movement
therapy
programs,
and
specialized
stress
management
training
for
CISF
personnel.
Mpower
is
also
driving
multiple
initiatives
across
India
for
a
large-scale
community
service
workforce
to
drive
acceptance
of
recognising
and
seeking
help
for
mental
health.
This
effort
reinforces
a
growing
openness
in
India
toward
seeking
mental
health
support,
mirroring
trends
in
Western
nations.
 

About
Mpower

Mpower,
an
initiative
of
the
Aditya
Birla
Education
Trust,
is
a
pioneering
social
enterprise
transforming
India’s
approach
to
mental
health.
Founded
eight
years
ago,
Mpower
operates
through
five
verticals—Movement,
Clinical
Care,
Outreach,
Academia,
and
Mpower
1
on
1—delivering
comprehensive
services
to
over
121
million
individuals
across
seven
cities.
Mpower’s
integrated
approach,
backed
by
a
team
of
200+
professionals,
continues
to
shape
a
stigma-free
mental
health
ecosystem.